What to decide before you paint exterior brick, how professionals prepare it, which coatings let the wall breathe and how Wisconsin weather affects the job
| QUICK ANSWER: You can paint a brick house, but it is a long-term decision because paint is hard to remove later. A professional job follows a clear order: inspect and repair the brick and mortar, clean off dirt and salts, let the wall dry, apply a masonry primer and finish with two coats of a breathable masonry or mineral paint. For many Madison homes the job takes roughly one to two weeks, and it should be done in dry weather above the paint’s minimum temperature. |
Key Takeaways
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Should You Paint Brick on a House?
Painting brick can refresh a dated exterior, hide stains and mismatched repairs, and give you a color you can update. It also adds upkeep, and removing paint from brick later is difficult and can damage the surface. The table compares the main reasons to paint with the reasons to think twice.
| Reasons to Paint | Reasons to Think Twice |
|---|---|
| Refresh a dated or stained exterior | Hard to reverse once painted |
| Cover mismatched or patched brick | Adds a repaint cycle you will need to maintain |
| Change the color to suit the street or trim | Can trap moisture if the wrong paint is used |
| Seal and protect a porous surface | Historic brick may carry local or neighborhood expectations |
If your home sits in a historic area, check with your city or village about any local rules before you commit. Older village centers such as Oregon, which has a National Register historic district with buildings from the late 1800s and early 1900s, can have extra expectations around exterior materials.
How Do You Paint a Brick House?
Here is how a professional crew typically approaches an exterior brick job, and our exterior painting services team follows the same logic.
- Inspect the brick and mortar. Look for cracks, spalling (flaking faces), loose bricks, crumbling mortar and signs of water entering the wall.
- Repair the problems. Failed mortar is repaired by tuckpointing, and damaged bricks are fixed or replaced. Gutters and flashing that leak onto the wall are corrected.
- Clean the surface. Dirt, mildew, loose paint and efflorescence are removed with washing and the right masonry cleaner.
- Let it dry. Brick holds water, so the wall must dry fully before priming, which can take days in damp weather.
- Prime. A masonry primer seals the surface and helps the paint bond to the porous brick.
- Apply the finish coats. Two coats of breathable masonry paint are standard, applied by spray and back-brush or roller for full coverage in the pores and mortar joints.
- Protect and finish. Windows, trim and landscaping are protected throughout, and a final walkthrough catches any missed spots.
How Do Painters Clean and Repair Brick Before Painting?
Brick is cleaned with water and a gentle method, because aggressive washing can damage the face of older brick and force water into the wall. Mildew and organic growth are treated, and loose or peeling old paint is removed. White, powdery efflorescence is brushed off and cleaned with a masonry-safe product, and the cause of the moisture is found and fixed. If salts keep returning, painting over them will not hold. Crumbling mortar is repointed so the wall sheds water properly.
Homes built before 1978 may have lead-based paint on windows, trim and older coatings. Before any scraping or sanding, review our guide to lead-safe painting for pre-1978 homes.
What Kind of Paint Is Best for Exterior Brick?
A breathable masonry paint is the usual answer. Brick absorbs and releases moisture, and a coating that seals it too tightly can trap water and cause peeling or spalling. Common choices are:
- Acrylic masonry paint: a flexible, widely available exterior coating made for brick and block.
- Mineral (silicate) paint: bonds chemically with masonry, stays highly breathable and is often used on historic brick.
- Limewash: a traditional, very breathable finish with a soft, chalky look.
Thick, heavy-film coatings are generally less suited to brick that needs to breathe, so ask your painter which product they recommend and why. For more on the traditional look, read our post on limewash and specialty wall finishes.
Do You Need to Prime Brick Before Painting?
Yes, in almost every case. A masonry primer, often alkali-resistant, seals the porous surface and gives the finish coats something to grip. It also evens out the absorbency between brick faces and mortar joints so the color looks uniform. Some mineral systems use their own preparation instead of a standard primer, and the manufacturer’s directions decide what is correct.
Is Limewash or Paint Better for a Brick House?
It depends on the look and the upkeep you want. Limewash is very breathable and develops a soft patina, but its color varies and it needs to be reapplied over time. Paint gives a more uniform color and a wider range of shades, and a good breathable masonry paint can last many years.
| Factor | Limewash | Breathable Masonry Paint |
|---|---|---|
| Look | Soft, chalky, varied tone | Even, solid color |
| Breathability | Very high | Good, depends on the product |
| Upkeep | Reapply more often | Longer repaint cycle |
| Color range | Limited, muted | Wide |
How Long Does Paint Last on Exterior Brick in Wisconsin?
A properly prepared and primed brick exterior commonly holds up for many years, often close to a decade or longer when moisture is controlled. Freeze and thaw cycles, wet walls, failing gutters and mortar that lets water in are the usual causes of early failure. Regular inspections of mortar joints, caulk and downspouts extend the life of the finish. Our guide on how much house painting costs in Madison includes brick and stone veneer pricing so you can plan for the upkeep.
Can Painted Brick Be Returned to Natural Brick Later?
Rarely, and never easily. Paint soaks into the surface and mortar joints, so removal usually involves chemical strippers or other methods that can damage the brick. Limewash and mineral paints are sometimes easier to weather away or remove than thick film coatings, but there is no guaranteed way to return to original brick. If you might want the natural look again, think carefully before you start.
When Is It Too Cold to Paint Brick in Madison, WI?
Most masonry paints list a minimum application temperature, commonly around 35 to 50 degrees Fahrenheit, and the brick also needs to be dry. Cold nights, frost and damp mornings are the problem, since moisture trapped in brick can keep the coating from curing. Late spring through early fall is the dependable range in Madison. See our seasonal painting guide for Madison homes for the temperature and humidity details, and always check the product data sheet for exact limits.
How Long Does It Take Professional Painters to Paint a Brick House?
A typical exterior can take about one to two weeks, which matches the 7 to 14 days we list for a two-story exterior. The range covers washing, repairs, drying time, priming and two coats. Weather delays, extensive tuckpointing or large, multi-story homes add time. A written schedule from your painter should account for dry time between steps.
Brick Homes Around Dane County
Brick homes show up across the area, from older village centers to newer neighborhoods. Houses in Waunakee, Oregon, DeForest and Cottage Grove range from older masonry with aging mortar to newer veneer homes that mainly need a clean, well-primed surface. A walkthrough is the best way to tell which you have.
For pricing, see our painting cost and estimates page, and for the full picture on residential work visit our Madison house painting page. You can also learn more about our painting contractor team.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q 1. Can I paint brick that has been painted before?
A. Yes, as long as the old paint is sound. Loose or peeling paint must be removed, and the surface needs cleaning and primer for the new coating.
Q 2. Does painting brick lower a home’s value?
A. It depends on the home and the buyer. Some buyers like a fresh, updated exterior, while others prefer natural brick. It is a style choice more than a rule.
Q 3. Should I paint the mortar joints too?
A. Yes. Masonry paint is applied over the full wall, including joints, so the finish looks uniform and the joints are sealed along with the brick.
Ready to Talk About Painting Your Brick Home?
A short inspection tells us whether your brick is ready to paint, which coating suits it and what repairs to plan for first.
| WORK WITH FINE FINISHES INC. Explore our exterior painting services, learn about Madison house painting or request a free estimate for your home. We also serve Waunakee, DeForest, Cottage Grove and Oregon. |